Steam joint supporting structure



March 23, 1948. s. M. BRATTON 2,438,141

STEAM JOINT SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed July 9, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 $1M. BRATTON 2,438,141

STEAM JOINT.SUPPORTING STRUCTURE v Filed, July 9, 1945 March 23, 1948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z -5. if

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Patented Mar. 23, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEAM JOINT SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Application July 9, 1945, Serial No. 603,797

11 Claims. 1

The present invention relates tonew and improved means for supportin a plurality of steam joint assemblies in operative relation to the steam heated drying rolls in a paper mill. More particularly, the invention is adapted for use with drying rolls of the type having exposed, intermeshing driving gears on the ends of their hollow journals, beyond or in front of the supporting bearings for the journals. Drying roll assemblies in paper mills are of two general types; first, those in which the driving gears are enclosed or encased within housings associated with the roll stands, and, second, those in which the gears are exposed and are positioned on the extended ends of the hollow journals, in front of or beyond the bearings for the journals.

-nrmyprror applic'tion, serial l lo. 416,417, filed Oct. 24, 1941 (now Patent No. 2,381,432, dated August 7, 1945), a new and improved steam joint assembly is described and claimed, as well as a manifold structure for supporting the steam joint and which is permanently connected to steam and condensate return lines, In that application, the manifold and its supporting means are adapted, in the specific embodiment disclosed, for use with steam heated drying rolls of the type having enclosed or encased gears, as the manifold is supported from the roll stand, 1. e., the heavy casting which carries the bearing for the roll journal.

It is impractical, if not impossible, to support such manifolds and steam joints directly from the roll stand or bearing supports in installations employing exposed gears, since the gears are in the way, being disposed in a vertical plane between the end facesof the journals and the roll stands.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved manifold'and joint supporting structure for use with drying rolls having' exposed, intermeshing driving gears on the ends of their hollow journals.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a supporting structure which makes it possible to have the joint supporting structure permanently connected to steam and water lines.

. A further object is to arrange the supporting structure so that the joint assemblies may be readily removed from and replaced upon the manifolds, without interference by the supporting structure.

Joint assemblies of the type shown in the above mentioned application are adapted for removal and replacement, for the replacement of worn sealing rings, by translational movement axially of the rolls, and the present invention aims to provide a supporting structure for the manifolds which facilitates this type of movement.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following description of the specific embodiment of the invention shown for purposes of illustration in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a section of the drying line in a paper mill, with the improved joint supporting structure in use.

Figure 2 is an elevation and partial section, with certain parts broken away, taken at right angles from the position of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal plan and par tiej e tion, with a section of the horizontal supporting pipe broken away, taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal plan and partial section, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale taken through the manifold of the present invention, substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the drying section of the paper mill may comprise an upper series of steam heated drying rolls l0 and a lower series of rolls ll, staggered with respect to each other and having intermeshing driving gears l2, l3 on the ends of their hollow journals I4, 15. The journals are mounted in bearings Ha, Ha, respectively, carried by pedestals l6 and a base I! projecting upwardly from the mill floor, in accordance with conventional practice.

The journals I4, it: are hollow for the introduction of steam under pressure and are provided with condensate return pipes, not shown, which may be rotatable or non-rotatable, as the case may be, as fully described in the above identified application.

In front of the end faces 18 and [9 of the journals and the exposed gears l2, 13, there are a plurality of vertical pipe supports 20, 21, secured at their lower ends in socket'members 22, bolted or otherwise secured to the mill floor. At their upper ends, the vertical pipes are held by angularly disposed braces 23, 24, secured to the machine frame 25. The vertical pipes 20 and 2| may extend continuously from the floor to the braces 23, 24, or they may be interrupted where they join the horizontal supports.

The latter may comprise a plurality of pipe sections 26, 21, 28, connected to the vertical pipesby means of T or cross-shaped brackets 29, 30 be t shOWn in Figure 3. The brackets aremade to hold the latter in the desired relation,

By reference to Figures 1 mm, it will be noted that the horizontal supporting pipes 2623 are positioned in front of and below the end faces l8 of the upper journals is and below the axes of" the upper rolls. The vertical supporting pipes zfi and 2! are positioned in front of and laterally with respect to the end faces I9 of the lower journals I5 and laterally of the axes of the lower rolls.

The vertical pipes (Figure 4) carry brackets '48 having semi-cylindrical recesses 4| adapted to embrace substantially one-half of the pipe. The bracket comprises a laterally ofiset portion 4|, terminating in a plane, vertical attaching surface 42, and connected to the recessed portion by an integral web ca and marginal flanges. The bracket is firmly clamped upon the pipe by a cap id and a plurality of nuts and bolts 45.

The horizontal pipes (Figure 3) similarly carry brackets 56, each having a semi-cylindrical recessed portions 5| embracing one-half of the pipe. They also are provided with plane, vertical agching surfaces 52, each connected to the reces's'ed fioition by an integral web 53. Caps,

identical to the ones used in connection with the vertical pipes, serve to clamp the bracket'sto the horizontalpipes, by means of bolts and nuts s5,

as previously described.

Thus, the brackets on the horizontal and've'rtical pipesupports allhave similar plane, vertical, attaching surfaces, provided with four apertures 55 for the reception of bolts 56, adapted to secure the manifolds of the present invention in position. These manifolds are provided with similar attaching flanges 51 having apertures 58 registering with the apertures 55 associated with the attaching surfaces of the brackets, so that they may be bolted in place by the bolts and nuts 56. Each manifold comprises two independent passages Gil, 6i, for steam and condensate return, respectively, terminatingattheir lower ends in threaded bores 62, 6-3, adapted for permanent pipe-joint connection to steam and condensate :return lines 65, 65 respectively.

The passages open at their'upper ends through a plane, horizontal upper face 66 of the manifold, which is adapted to receive the joint assembly, and upon which it may be bolted by bolts 61, extending through apertures formed in the corners of the upper end flange.

Each joint assembly 70 is preferably substan- .tially identical to the assembly shown and described in my above mentioned prior application and, therefore, need not be described herein.

. Suffice it-to. say that the joint assembly-comprises independent steam and condensate return pasedclaims and'their drying roll, a second sealing ring is employed, making connection with the condensate passage in the joint casing. When a sealing ring becomes worn, and it is necessary to replace the same, the entire joint assembly may be readily removed. withoutshutting down the operation of the mill, by simply cutting ofi the steam supply to that particular roll, removing the'four'bolts B1 and sliding the assembly axially away from the roll along the surface SSof the manifold. Then, the ring or rings may be replaced, or a reconditioned joint assembly substituted. The assembly may be installed by simply sliding it along the face 66 of the manifold, axially of the roll, and securingrit in place by bolts 67. g

It will be noted that as a result of the offset position of the vertical pipes 20 and 2| andthe lowered position of the horizontal pipes 26-28,

the supporting structure does not interfere with this axial movement of the joint assemblies.

It must be understoolr'thatth'e'invention is not limited'to the details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings and described above, as many modifications will occur to those skilled "in the art from a considerationpfthe specific embodiment disclosed, and all such modifications as come within the'scope of the appendequivalents are intended to be included.

I claim:

1. A supporting structure for steam joints and a plurality of joints carried thereby; for paper drying rolls of the type having rotatable hollow journals provided with steamandewater passages leadingitherethrough and. driving gears. first i on the outer ends thereof, sales" 1 etnreecernprising a plurality of members fi-Xell with respect toand independent of the journals; and positioned be-- yond the gears, a plurality of manifolds carried by said members infixed relation to the journals, each manifold having a joint supporting surface and independent steam and water passages-penmanently connectedat oneof-their ends to steam and water-lines andopenin'g at their otherends through independentpor-ts formed ;in-.-saiil jointsupporting surface,. and aij'oint assemblyvmounted thereon "and. establishing connection between the passages in the. manifold: and the' passa'ges in the journal, the 'j oint assembly i'beingreadiiy renibv able from the supportingsurfaceswithout:ndis1- turbing the manifold; connectionsto" the-steam and water lines.

2. A supportingstructure-rampant:gomtsmr paper drying rollsof the-ty pe "nawmg'retatable hollow journals provided with steam and wm'er passages leading therethroug'h' anld dr'iving gears fast on the outer ends'thereof, said 8 uture comprising a plurality of'members fixed wi are spect to and in'dependent of'the journals antipesitioned beyond the gears; and a plurality of manifolds carried by said members in fixed-rela'tion to the journals each manifold .havlng'a fixed, substantially plane, i'oint'assembly supsages registering with passages iii and El in the manifold and with the steam and condensate return passages in the hollow journal, with a sealing ring, ll held against the end face I8 or IQ of the hollow journal by a Sylphon bellows and compression spring assembly 73. If a rotatable condensate return pipe is associated with the porting surface parallel to thej'ournal axis'and having independent steam and water passages permanently connected at one ,of their' endsto steam and waterlines and openingattheirother ends through"independentports in said 'supporting surface, whereby a joint assemblyhavingindependent passages registering "with the ports in said surface and with the, journai passages may be mounted thereon for connection witntnepassages in the journal andimaybeireadilyiremoved therefrom by axial movement relative to the journal, without disturbing the manifold connections to the steam and water lines.

3. A drier section in a paper mill, comprising a plurality of drying rolls having hollow journals supported in fixed bearings, steam and water passages leading through the journals, intermeshing gears on the ends of the journals beyond the bearings, steam supply and water return pipes beyond the gears, a framework independent of said pipes spaced in front of the gears, a plurality of brackets carried exclusively by the framework, all having similar supporting surfaces adjacent the journals, a manifold attached to and carried exclusively by each of said supporting surfaces and having steam and water passages. permanently connected to said steam and water pipes, and a joint assembly carried by each manifold, having steam and water passages registering with the manifold passages and with the steam and water passages in the journal, and having sealing rings associated therewith, said joint assembly being readily removable for replacement of the sealing rings, without disturbing the connections between the manifold and the steam and water lines.

4. The combination with the drying section of a paper making line comprising a plurality of steam heated drying rolls having hollow journals supported in fixed bearings, steam and water passages extending therethrough, intermeshing gears on the outer ends of the journals, and fixed steam supply and water return lines, of a plurality 'of vertical and horizontal supports spaced from the lines, the journals and the gears, a plurality of brackets carried by said supports, each positioned m prggeterminedaelation to" a roll journal, a manifold carried by each bracket having steam and Water passages permanently connected at one of their ends to said steam and water lines, and opening at their other ends through a joint assembly supporting surface, and a joint assembly supported for ready removal on each of said surfaces establishing communication between the manifold passages and the corresponding passages in the journal.

5. The combination with the drying section of a paper making line comprising a plurality of steam heated drying rolls having hollow journals supported in fixed bearings, steam and water passages extending therethrough, intermeshing gears on the outer ends of the journals, and fixed steam supply and water return lines, of a plurality of vertical and horizontal supports spaced from the lines, the journals and the gears, a plurality of brackets carried by said supports, each of said brackets having a similarly arranged manifold-receiving surface positioned in predetermined relation to one of the journals, a plurality of substantially identical manifolds, one mounted upon each of said surfaces and each having steam and water passages permanently connected at one of their ends to said steam and water lines and opening at their other ends through a surface adapted to receive and support for ready removal, substantially identical joint assemblies, and a joint assembly supported thereon and establishing communication between the manifold passages and the corresponding passages in the journal.

6. The combination with the drier section of a paper making line comprising staggered upper and lower steam heated rolls having hollow journals provided with steam and condensate return passages, supporting bearings, exposed intermeshing driving gears beyond the bearings, and

fixed steam supply and water return lines beyond the gears, of means establishing connection with said lines for delivering steam to and returning condensate from the rolls, said means comprising a framework made up of vertical members substantially aligned with the lower rolls and horizontal members substantially aligned with the upper rolls; brackets carried by the vertical and horizontal members having manifold-receiving surfaces similarly arranged with respect to the journals of the upper and lower rolls; a manifold carried by each bracket comprising an attaching surface registering with the bracket surface, steam and Water passages permanently connected to said steam and water lines and a joint supporting surface through which said passages open; a joint assembly carried by the joint supporting surface of each manifold having steam and water passages communicating respectively with the manifold passages and with the passages in the journal, and rotatable seal means for the passages; said joint assemblies being removable from the joint supporting surfaces of the manifolds for replacement of the sealing means, without disturbing the manifold connections with the brackets or with the steam and water lines. I

'7. The combination with a plurality of steam heated drying rolls in a paper mill, of means for supporting a corresponding number of joint assemblies for delivering steam to and removing condensate from the rolls, said means comprising a series of vertical frame members and a series of horizontal frame members, one series for the upper rolls and the other for the lower rolls, a plurality of manifolds carried by the horiaontal supports in vertical alignment with and at a lower level than the associated roll axes, a plurality of manifolds carried by and offset laterally from the vertical supports and aligned with and positioned at a lower level than the other roll axes, steam and water lines independent of said frame members permanently connected to said manifolds, and a joint assembly removably supported upon each manifold and establishing communication between said steam and water "having intermeshing driving gears on their journals beyond the bearings, of a steam joint supporting structure comprising two series of interconnected vertical and horizontal tubular supports, brackets carried by the vertical supports having laterally offset portions vertically aligned with the axes of the lower rolls, a manifold carried by each bracket having a substantially plane upper face positioned below and in vertical alignment with the end of the adjacent roll journal and having steam and water passages opening therethrough, said passages being permanently connected to steam and water lines, and a joint assembly mounted on the upper plane face of each manifold and establishing communication between the manifold passages and the adjacent roll journal, said joint assemblies being removable from the manifolds by translational movement along said plane faces, axially of the rolls.

9. The combination with upper and lower steam heated paper-mill drying rolls of the type having intermeshing driving gears mounted on the ends of their hollow journals beyond the bearings and steam supply and water return lines beyond the gears, of a supporting structure for a plurality of steam and condensate joints,

amen-4i open, whereby: Joint assemblies may be mounted upon said manifolds: for. establishing communicaitibh between the passages and the journals,

, and may-be :rembvedtheretrom;axially of the journals, without interference by the supporting members. 7

10. The combination with upper endlow er steam beaten aaapenmill drying rolls of the. type having intermeshing driving. :ge'ars. mounted on the ends or their hollow: journals beyond the bearings, of a supporting structure for a plur-ality of steam and condensate joint assemblies, said structure comprising horizontal tubular supporting members 'p'ositioned' in front of and below the upper journalelverticall disposed tubular supporting mernherseonneeted'to the horizontal members and positioned in front and to one side ofthe-lower r611 axes, and manifolds carried by the :memhers below and veiitic'al alignment with the roll axes, having passages permanentlyconnected' to steam and condensate return lines and plane, upper joint assembly -supportiri'g mlrfaces through which the passages "8 013911,.7Wh6l36b5'tj0iflt aesembl-ies; may hemounted upon said, mamioldefir iestablishingcommunh cation; between the zpassagesand the journals,

ahdzmayrberemoved. there-from, axially :of "the ieumalls, without interference by thetubular ,7

supports. V

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9. characterized injthat the lower manifoldsqare carried by brackets secured to the vertical sup-,- ports and which have laterally :ofiset portions aligning the. manifolds withthe .roll axes.

M; BRATTON. REFERENCES CITED The following referencesv are of .recordnin the file-of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Number Name Date 8633686 Whittle n Aug. 20,1907 1,097,144. Spencer, May 19, 1914 1,520,923 Baldwin Dec. 30, 1924 1,538,105 'Fulton May 19, 1,325 1,662,095 Woodsomea- Mai-.13, 1928, 1,670,118 Harrison May 15', 1928 1,718,209. Aldrich et al. June-25, 1 929 1,795,546 Evans Mar. 10, .1931 1,991,432 Valentineet al Feb. 19, 1935 2.,381A32 Brat-tonv Aug. 7, 1 945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country I Date 19,582 Great Britain we. 19 1 0 

